Berwick National Night Out

In its 11th year, Berwick’s National Night Out Against Crime held Tuesday was hailed by organizers as a community-building event.
An estimated 250 people attended the event complete with a band, fun jump, mechanical bull, rock wall and free food.
The event is brought to the community through a vast array of corporate sponsors who donate to the program and to the tutoring and resident programs as well as through a partnership between the Berwick Police Department and the Berwick Housing Authority, BHA Director Clarence Robinson said.
“I think the partnership developed over 11 years allows us to make this a community environment,” Robinson said, speaking of the housing authority. “It’s different here because we established a relationship with the police department.”
The event has had the support of the mayor and council since its inception, he said.
“It’s a deep partnership we’ve got, and it works,” Robinson said.
Mayor Louis Ratcliff said, “We’re so proud to host the National Night Out rally that brings the residents, police department and fire department together. We have great cooperation between all of the entities.”
The police and fire departments had numerous employees working at the event.
Berwick Volunteer Fire Department Capt. Kirt St. Germain said, “It’s all about the community to me and to all the rest of the members (of the fire department). We support the community because the community supports us.”
The fire department had several fire trucks on hand as well as Sparky the Fire Dog, the fire department’s mascot.
Meanwhile, Berwick Police Department Assistant Chief David Leonard said, “This event is what binds the community to the police department and the first responders.”
Police officers on hand did everything from fingerprinting children for identification cards to playing basketball with them.